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It’s March, so make your picks — on employee benefits

Nobody’s benefits renew in March. March is pretty much the opposite of benefits season. Many of you are just waiting on the fall email from your employer that reminds you to check your benefits and see if something has changed — marital status, number of children, medical history — as well as instructions on how to make changes to your package. If nothing significant has occurred, you probably just check the box to keep everything the same. It’s easy.

But this March I want to challenge you that this might be an excellent time to pull up your employee benefits from last fall and ask yourself if there’s anything in there you don’t understand or a place where maybe you should have made a different election.

March 15, 2023

With all this market turbulence, is the plane going to land?

“Buckle up, folks — we’re about to experience some heavy turbulence.”

Why do I bring this up now? Because folks, we’ve experienced some heavy market turbulence lately, and while the skies are a little calmer right now, my guess is that we have more to come before this plane lands. But I’m an experienced flyer, and let me assure you, this is no time to get panicky with your portfolios.

February 23, 2023

This Valentine’s Day, give the gift of a lifetime

As a financial planner, I’ve learned over the years that there is no greater asset than that of human life. I’m reminded of that whenever I see families go from tying the knot to starting a family, from becoming empty nesters to retiring, and finally to celebrating life. We’ve been blessed to walk alongside our clients’ families during each of those steps and celebrate life’s milestones, happy and sad.

February 14, 2023

The Most Powerful Investment Tool is Time

How investing a little can lead to much more.

You may remember learning about erosion in school, how a small trickle of water, over time, can wear away rocks and soil and transform into a raging river.

That image always enters my mind when I talk with young investors about how to make their money work for them early in their careers. Coming into their first jobs out of college, they probably aren’t making much income, and that’s while they’re considering student loans, saving for a first down payment on a home, and the other expenses that come from starting life on their own. Many of them feel that there just isn’t enough left over to start funding an investment account in a meaningful way.

February 9, 2023

Dave’s Inbox: Should I stop contributing to retirement during the bear market?

I keep track of the many questions I receive from client families about their financial pictures, and I wanted to address two of those questions that have come up quite a bit recently regarding retirement accounts in a down market.

February 1, 2023

Investment vs. Speculation: What’s the difference?

Many people spent 2022 putting money into a 401(k), only to watch that balance stay the same, or even go down. Unfortunately, that’s the way markets are from time to time. I understand that is not very motivating, and you may be questioning some of your decisions. It might have you wondering if you should stay the course or try to jump on the bandwagon of the next big “investment” in an attempt to recover some losses. Before making any decisions, let’s make sure the next big “Investment” is actually an investment and not just speculation.

January 27, 2023

After a 2022 downturn, hope springs eternal in 2023

2022 was truly an awful year as the Federal Reserve began its interest rate hike policy in an attempt to battle inflation. Speaking of inflation, I know that many of you have been frustrated by the higher costs associated with financing a new home, purchasing a vehicle, or trips to any retailer. Inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index, rose by 6.5% in 2022.

New year, same problems.

However, there are several pieces of good news.

January 19, 2023

Don’t Rush Your Financial Plan

When it comes to saving and investing, it’s always a good idea to start young and be consistent. Early and often, right? While this is solid advice, I also advise my clients not to rush the process when it comes to building a solid financial foundation.

January 6, 2023

Your Financial Personality

As everyone is thinking about financial perspectives and priorities during the first weeks of the new year, we encourage client couples and families to ask themselves a few lifestyle and values questions that will help them determine their approach to money – and help us in going over their budgets and goals. No two clients are alike, and lifestyle goals are as varied as the people we work with.

January 4, 2023

Manage Your Own Money? We Can Still Help.

Every so often, I’ll get a call or have someone come into the office and say they want to bring their spouse in for a meeting, but they’re not really sure how or if we can help them, and then they pause. I long ago stopped filling that pause with all the reasons why and how we can help them. Instead, I’ve learned that the best approach is often to simply ask, why? While the responses I receive vary, the storyline is predictable. Here it is.

December 15, 2022

Family Financial Partners

It’s March, so make your picks — on employee benefits

With all this market turbulence, is the plane going to land?

This Valentine’s Day, give the gift of a lifetime

The Most Powerful Investment Tool is Time

Dave’s Inbox: Should I stop contributing to retirement during the bear market?

Investment vs. Speculation: What’s the difference?

After a 2022 downturn, hope springs eternal in 2023

Don’t Rush Your Financial Plan

Your Financial Personality

Manage Your Own Money? We Can Still Help.

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